Sony Widens SmartWatch Developer Program

By Adrian Bridgwater, June 18, 2013

Experimental project to "create and flash" alternative firmware

Sony has progressed its Bluetooth SmartWatch code to a more open status. The firm is thought to have made this move in response to criticism of the software applications and firmware that initially shipped with the device.

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Sony says it now issues an invitation to software application developers to design, develop, and code applications, firmware and/or other software-based extensions to the device.

The Open SmartWatch program is Sony's direct call to developers to start coding for the watch with this "experimental project" that is now underway.

Sony says it has published everything from open-sourced binaries and code examples to DASH, and made it possible to unlock many of its smartphones and tablets.

The firm says that it is now making it possible for advanced developers to "create and flash" alternative firmware for the watch by sharing technical details and instructions.

"Developers have been able to create apps for the SmartWatch using the Sony Add-on SDK for quite some time already; however, with the Open SmartWatch project, we're opening up the device even more. If you're an advanced developer, you can now take control of SmartWatch as a hardware peripheral in new ways by creating and flashing your own alternative firmware," said the company.

After an Arduino hackathon in the Swedish city of Malmö, Sony has now brought together a set of technical information and instructions in the form of a hacker guide and a list of existing firmware versions (to be updated once there is alternative firmware available).

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